Lost Lake

Third of seven hikes in the Walk in Wonder 2026 hike-a-thon.

Do you know the feeling when you stand at the edge of a lake where there are no houses, no pristine lawns, manicured sand or retaining walls… where the messy, lush border of reeds and lily pads is bursting with life… and something deep inside you stirs with understanding?

Do you know the feeling when you stand in a field of big bluestem and watch the butterflies dance through the air? When the breeze makes the grasses wave, and you feel the energy flowing from the sun overhead, and from the earth below, into your body as that same breeze cools your face?

The meadow portion of this hike traverses a disused prairie airstrip. In an act of accidental conservation, the airstrip may have served as a shield against the plow. Land that has been farmed can be challenging to restore to native species, because the seedbank becomes buried and fertilizers change the soil composition, leaving an environment where invasive species thrive. But here we see strong representation from native species, especially the big bluestem that thrives in the open meadow.

Lost Lake was our third hike for the SMLC Walk in Wonder hike-a-thon. We’re so grateful to the visionaries and funders who help to preserve places like this.